CONFESS Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'confess' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of confess are acknowledge , admit , avow , and own . While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt. // confessed a weakness for sweets

Q: When could 'acknowledge' be used to replace 'confess'?

In some situations, the words acknowledge and confess are roughly equivalent. However, acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed. // acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

Q: Where would 'admit' be a reasonable alternative to 'confess'?

Although the words admit and confess have much in common, admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications. // admitted the project was over budget

Q: When can 'avow' be used instead of 'confess'?

While the synonyms avow and confess are close in meaning, avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about. // avowed that he was a revolutionary

Q: In what contexts can 'own' take the place of 'confess'?

While in some cases nearly identical to confess , own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself. // must own I know little about computers

confess

verb

kən-ˈfes

Definition of confess next

as in to admit

to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid the thief confessed to dozens of robberies

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to concede

to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly political prisoners, under threat of torture, forced to confess their guilt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb confess contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of confess are acknowledge, admit, avow, and own. While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

confessed a weakness for sweets

When could acknowledge be used to replace confess?

In some situations, the words acknowledge and confess are roughly equivalent. However, acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

Where would admit be a reasonable alternative to confess?

Although the words admit and confess have much in common, admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

admitted the project was over budget

When can avow be used instead of confess?

While the synonyms avow and confess are close in meaning, avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about.

avowed that he was a revolutionary

In what contexts can own take the place of confess?

While in some cases nearly identical to confess, own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.

must own I know little about computers

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of confess Although the murderer was caught and confessed, the town’s economy still suffers. —

Sandra Dallas, The Denver Post, 2 Feb. 2025 Maldonado also accused prosecutors of coercing Glover's testimony and said the former zoo worker publicly confessed to lying during the second season of Tiger King, which was released in November 2021. —

Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 Enterprising captains — including, Pujol confesses, his own grandfather, who owned a 38-foot lobster boat — would pick up migrants in Cuba and deliver them to waiting family members parked at the traffic circle. —

Nicolas Rivero, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025 James Earl Ray, a 40-year-old escaped fugitive, later confessed to the crime and was sentenced to a 99-year prison term. —

Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for confess